to go over the fiscal cliff because then taxes go up across the board. and then it's got to be done retroactively. >> which is not what the president wants, but there's a big difference between this fiscal cliff and the full faith and credit of the united states. the american government has never defaulted on its debt. and now there are some, not the majority of republicans but some on the extreme of the republican party and they seem to be in control, who seem to want to default on our debt. that's crazy. if they cannot be entrusted with the full faith and credit of the united states, they should not have that leverage. >> paul, where were the overtures though? where were the overtures with this deal that was presented? i mean, listen, you don't have to be mensa to know delivering a deal like that was going to make mitch mcconnell laugh. where were the overtures for the democrats? >> first of all, it is an overture, the deal itself. the proposal. it's not the deal, it's the proposal. the republicans have not come with a counterproposal. why? they seem t